Can opener



Aug. 5, 1958 D. E. ROYAL 2,845,702

CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 5, 1956 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 'IINVENTOR. Dal/ems f. Pox/AL Q via-MM A TTORNE) Aug. 5, 1958 D. E. ROYAL CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 INVENTOR. Dal/oz A8 5. ROYAL BY flf'yri] A TTOR/VEY United States Patent 2,845,702 CAN OPENER Douglas E. Royal, Peoria, Ill.

Application October 5, 1956, Serial No. 614,295 Claims. (Cl. 306.1)

This invention relates to improvements in can openers.

An object of the invention is to provide a can opener that will 'open and then provide a spout for the cans.

The can opener will as the result of a single downward motion through a 90 degree are, cut a pouring opening in the top of the can, form a pitcher spout in the wall of the can adjacent the pouring opening and cut an air vent hole in the top of the can diametrically opposite to the pouring opening. The can thus perforated .and. shaped permits a precise pouring of the contents of the can, at as slow or as fast a rate as may be desired.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists of the novel details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

..Fig."l is an elevational view of a can opener embodying the invention mounted on a suitable support;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a bracket for mounting. the can opener;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the end of the can opener that is mounted in the bracket of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary sectional view looking at the side of the bracket of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detailed fragmentary view looking at the side of the can opener of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the bracket per se;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the can opener;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the can opener in operation starting its downward movement;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 with the can opener further depressed;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 8 and 9 with the can opener fully depressed; and

Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the can opener per se.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals, the reference numeral 15 isused to generally designate a bracket for mounting the can opener embodying the invention.

The bracket 15 comprises an elongated base 16 having a pair of L-shaped attaching arms 17 and 18, respectively, projected rearwardly thereof. The arms 17 and 18 are provided with an opening to receive screws 19 whereby the bracket 15 may be attached toa suitable support S.

The base 16 has a pair of parallel side portions 20 and 21, respectively, integral therewith and the upper end of each side portion has an inturned ear 22 thereon. The ears 22 are diametrically opposed to each other and a notch 23 is provided in each forward edge of the side portions 20 and 21 below the cars 22.

A pivot pin 24 extends transversely of the side portions 20 and 21 intermediate of the ears 22 and notches 23. The front edges of the side portions 20 and 21 are 2,845,702 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 ice cutaway at an inwardly directed angle as at 25 to provide a ledge 26 in the edge of each of the side portions 20 and 21, respectively, adjacent the lower end thereof.

A U-shaped spring clip 27 is secured to the arm 17 by a rivet 28 for a purpose to be later described.

The can opener 30 comprises a handle portion 31 having a spout forming ram 32 at one end and a bearing opening 33 in a bearing portion 34 opposite to the ram 32 forming a substantially T-shape formation. -A pin 35 mounted in the opening 33 in the bearing portion 34 of the handle portion 31 engages a pair of bearings 36 on the cutter 37 so that the cutter-37 is pivotally mounted on the bearing portion 34 of the handle portion 31.

A U-shaped spring clip 38 extends over the upper end of the cutter 37 and bearing portion 34 of the handle 31. A projection 39 on one end of the clip 38 engages in an opening 40 in the cutter 37 so that the clip 38 is rigidly secured to the cutter 37 by welding, soldering or the like. The opposite end of the clip 38 is curled as at 40' and the curled end 40 engages the rear surface of the bearing portion 34 of the handle 31.

A U-shaped lever 41 formed by a bent wire has a pair of angularly disposed ends 42 that are welded or soldered to the cutter 37 in opposed relation to the projection 39 of the clip 38 as it extends through the, opening 40 in the cutter 37.

The cutter 37 has an elongated slot '43 at its lower cutting end 44 which receives the ram 32'on the handle portion 31. The cutter 37 is provided ,with a transversely disposed groove 45 intermediate of the opening 40 and slot 43 for a purpose to be later described.

An air vent opening cutter 46 is provided with a slot 47 whereby it is mounted on the handle portion 31 in relatively spaced relation to the ram 32.

To operate the can opener, with the bracket 15 secured to the support E, the lever 41 is pressed downward until the cutter 37 assumes the dotted line position of Fig. 5. The cutter 37 is then slipped into the upper end of the bracket 15 so that the pin 24 is positioned in the groove 45 in the cutter 37. In the position shown in Fig. 1, the spring clip 27 is engaging the upper end of the upper end of the cutter 37 to retain the handle portion 31 in the position shown preparatory to opening a can or when the can opener is not in use. The action of the spring clip 38 looks the cutter and handle portion in unit assembly so that as the handle moves the cutter moves also. The notches 23 in the edges of the side portions 20 and 21 are to receive a can having a rim thereon and the following operation will be directed to this type of can. However, if a rimless can is used, the lower edge will rest on the ledges 26 in the side portions 20 and 21 and the operation will be identical. A can C having a rim R is placed in cooperation with the bracket 15 so that the rim R engages the notches 23. The handle portion 31 is then moved downwardly on the pivot 24. The point of the cutting edge 44 of the cutter 37 pierces the metal top of the can C and starts to cut the can C as in Fig. 8. At the same time the can is held firmly to the bracket 15. As the handle portion 31 is further depressed, Fig. 9, the cutter 37 has moved through about half of its travel, the ram 32, which projects through the slot 43 in the cutter 37, engages the metal being cut from the top of the can C, at this point the movement of the ram 32 is stopped for it requires five times more foot pounds of torque to tear the metal than to cut it. The point of engagement now becomes a moving pivot; the force of movement of the handle 31 is now transferred to the pin 35, the main pivot of the cutter 37. Thus, the cutter 37 is pulled around the pin 35. The force required to cut 3. the can C being much less than the force required to tear the can C, the cutter 37 cuts the metal ahead of the ram 32. The cut metal is thus forced down and toward the can wall by the cutter 37. The ram 32, however, moves in toward the rim of the can C as the metal is cut and pressed in this direction, hence the moving pivot. As the cut is complete the cutter 37 has moved its full travel. It has pressed the cut metal against the inside wall of the can. It has come in contact with the lips formed at the top of the bracket, it is now perpendicular and any furthermovement stopped. The ram 32 is now in contact with the inside rim of the can C, ready to start the spout, thus, the ram 32 forces that portion of the wall of the can adjacent the cut made by the cutter 37 outwardly, as in Fig. 10, at this point the spout is about 80% to 90% complete and the vent cutter 46 comes into action and penetrates the top of the can C. This action permits three separate operations on only one 90 degree movement of the handle 31 and forms a clean, uniform opening and spout. The handle portion 31 may now be moved back into the position of Fig. l and the can C may be removed.

The can C now has a pouring spout P formed by the rain 32 and a vent opening V to permit the contents of the can C to be poured out of the opening made in the top of the can C by the cutter 37.

The can opener can be demounted by pressing the lever 41 downwardly and raising the cutter 37 out of the bracket 15.

It is believed that the operation and construction of the invention will be apparent to these skilled in the art and it is to be understood that changes in the minor details of construction, arrangement and combination of parts may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A can opener including means for pivotally mounting the same on a suitable support and comprising a handle portion, a cutter pivotally mounted at one end of said handle portion and means on said handle portion adjacent said cutter for extending into engagement with a can after an opening has been cut therein by the cutter to provide a pouring spout.

2. A can opener having a handle portion, a bearing portion and a ram portion at one end of said handle portion, a cutter, means for pivotally mounting said cutter on the bearing portion of said handle portion, and means for pivotally mounting said can opener to permit said cutter to cut an opening in a can and said ram to provide a pouring spout on said can adjacent the opening cut therein.

3. A can opener as in claim 2, wherein a spring is mounted on said cutter and engageable with the bearing portion of said handle portion to maintain said cutter and handle portions in such position relative to each other that they form a bearing for a suitably disposed pivot.

.4. A can opener as in claim 2 wherein a bracket is provided for pivotally mounting said can opener.

5. A can opener as in claim 4, wherein means is provided on said handle portion for disengaging said handle portion from said bracket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,642 Geer July 12, 1932 2,698,992 Williamson et a1 Jan. 11, 1955 2,712,177 Bauer July 5, 1955 2,722,737 Withers Nov. 8, 1955 

